Before: Gurashi's Backstory

A round chamber.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Leading from the living room to the east, the archway opens up into a round chamber that reaches up nearly thirty feet into the air. The floor is again made of the same golden, crystal-flecked and violet-whorled bamboo with its protective coating, but in this room there are also a series of depressions in the floor. The first is in the center of the room, and covered with a layer of bright orange padding with red poppies randomly distributed along the fabric. Directly next to that first depression is one that is significantly larger, with more padding, deep black and durable. A few more depressions with their own padding are interspersed throughout the space, though they have the same pattern to them- just pure white. In addition to being a different shape to the rest of the rooms of the house, the walls of this chamber are completely different from all the other rooms, as well- rather than wood leading up to decorative paper, or simply wood leading all the way up to the ceiling, the walls are covered in what look to be thousands and thousands of pieces of bright green jade, melded together and forming a tight weave resembling a wall of vines in an unbroken pattern, save for the archway that leads back to the living room. The jade vines themselves are not unadorned, either, with silvery script and symbols embedded directly into the material. Meditative mantras, defensive glyphs, symbols of concealment and reinforcement can all be found upon the lengths of interwoven jade vines. The ceiling in turn is also different from the rest of the house's theme. Instead of the blue stone tiles, the ceiling has taken on the luminous pigments of the sky of the Great Starry Sea, complete with deep, subtle, tidally slow pulses of aquamantic power washing down from above.
You see a single exit leading east.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Good morning."

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his head, and the pleasant, albeit clumsy sounding music that you previously heard as you wandered in ends. "Good morning."

Bizirik, the leothin gives a short gasp of elation.

Bizirik, the leothin chirps happily at Tridemon.

Bizirik, the leothin rises from its cushioned resting spot, trotting over to greet Tridemon with a cheerful series of trills and chatters.

Tridemon pats Bizirik, the leothin in a friendly manner.
Bizirik, the leothin stares blankly at Tridemon. After a moment its tail lifts once then thumps back against the ground with potential delight.

Tridemon pats you in a friendly manner.

You think to yourself: / *her presence returns with a rush of hive noise, suddenly surprised* Oh - we're all awake /.

Quietly, you say, "Yeah - Tridemon just got here."

You think to yourself: / *surprised still* Ah - Keeper /.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to Bizirik, the leothin, "How's the mandolin treating him?"

Bizirik, the leothin lets out a little noise and tosses its head, chirping. Its mouth clicks shut and one eye closes as it shuffles.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up, then back down at the instrument, trying another chord. Unfortunately, the notes are very clumsy and unpracticed. "...it's different."

Speaking quietly, you say, "But, like it."

You think to yourself: / *a soft, curious chitter* And how are you this morning? /.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks back down to the instrument, resuming quietly playing to himself.

You think to yourself: ** ... **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Less tired than Gurashi was earlier."

Without looking up, you say, "Was pretty tired."

You think to yourself: ** am pretty tired **.

Bizirik, the leothin leans on Tridemon seeking consolation.

Tridemon strokes Bizirik, the leothin's head in consolation.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out another little noise, a soft trill, then a little whine, accepting the attention graciously.

You think to yourself: / *sarcastic* That is a rather specific way to be /.

You have emoted: Gurashi plucks a few more strings, then lets the music die again, gaze drifting across the room back to Tridemon. "You were out doing fun things?"

The echoing blast of a horn rings in your ears, played by Ciuvi. Judging by the volume and timbre of the sound, you judge it was played at starlight watched by a merian woman in the Manifestation of the Pool of Stars.
Room #49762

You think to yourself: .... Ciuvi .... is in Nexus World?

You shake your head.

You think to yourself: ** the faint sound of running water, accompanied with echoing mandolin notes **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Any developments?"

You have emoted: Gurashi pauses. "Developments?"

You think to yourself: / I think he's referring to that sound. And your... *a vague gesture at the still gnarled vine wall that surrounds her* /.

You glance askance.

You think to yourself: ** a brief recollection of blue-violet and withdrawal **.

Tridemon nods his head emphatically.

You think to yourself: / I haven't noticed anything, save that sometimes they get ... *a pause* Unsettled /.

You have emoted: Gurashi stares at Tridemon for a good long while, holding his mandolin to his chest and listening. Slowly he looks away, then bows his head... familiar shades of seafoam seep into the otherwise bleak mindscape. Greens, flashes of violet - a familiar place. Like the room you sit in, though the room looks much more artistic and flowing than the gnarled state of the actual vine wall.

The call of a cicada welcomes the setting of the sun and the coming night.

You have emoted: Gurashi is not far off, the proffered crystalline flower from earlier still clutched in his hands protectively. Khep is even closer, moving about quickly as she examines the walls.

Tridemon manifests himself into the mindscape again, looking around once more- this time not examining individual objects, but rather looking at the colors to check if any are particularly out of place.

You have emoted: You feel Khep move past you, joining Gurashi at his little end of the circle. She looks at the flower, then at the man, tilting her head to the side. Your gaze drifts around the circle... and, save for a general mixing of shapes both smooth and gnarly, they -look- O-K. Maybe paler. Nothing like it was before.

You think to yourself: / *ponderously* The noise carried on for a while after you slept but its frequency diminished... /.

Tridemon looks over at you again, and at the vines, then back to Khep. "... I don't suppose you can continue with the tale you were telling in the reflecting pool before?"

You think to yourself: ** as if on cue, the very mention causes a faint, distant sound of crackling - somewhere beyond the circle **.

You think to yourself: / *a pause as she regards the sound* ... I can, but ... /.

The depths of the dark of night herald a new beginning, and a new chance to make the world a little better.
It is now the 12th of Roarkian, 560 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 2 days until the New Moon

Tridemon thinks for a moment, before looking at the vine, and then down at the ground. "... also, did any of us bother to check what's actually underneath this?"

You think to yourself: / ... /.

Tridemon shakes his head. "I don't mean to flit from subject to subject like that, but that sound reminds me of breaking rock."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks down again at the flower, gently touching the outermost petals with his thumb. He glances up at Tridemon's comment, frowning. You look, and can see the ground you stand on still holds, but is even more fractured than when you had noticed it prior.

You think to yourself: / I assumed that underneath the ground was more ground /.

You think to yourself: / Then again, we have already established I am less comfortable or familiar with abstract concepts /.

Tridemon shakes his head again. "What's beneath the ground should be the foundational ideals of the personality manifesting the mindscape. But the ground is -breaking-."

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

You think to yourself: ** a flicker of color and light, quickly lost again in the dark not occupied by vines or bodies **.

You think to yourself: / *you feel her step up beside you, looking down at the ground, nudging a crack with her foot* The way you expressed that makes it sound bad /.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out a little noise, finally leaving Tridemon's side and returning to Gurashi's, staring up at the man blankly, tail slapping the ground.

Tridemon shrugs, leaning in to inspect one of the cracks. "Well, it can mean that there's a fundamental breakdown in who and what he is. ... Or there's several hidden layers that are being revealed. It could be a superficial mental breakdown, an opportunity for growth, or something that could leave behind severe emotional scarring." He says... before reaching over to poke at the fracture closest to him. "Lots of possibilities. It's hard to tell the truth behind the matter since it can literally be all of those explanations at once."

You have emoted: Khep steps away from you, to one of the more prominent cracks in the ground. She steps on it tentatively, and it shifts under her weight, but holds. Her antennae raise, and she listens... then lets her gaze drift back over to Gurashi , who has said and done nothing since you both returned. His hands remain closed very carefully over the flower, and he watches, and listens, but offers no commentary of his own, more of an observer rather despite being the one whose mind is being tromped about.

Tridemon shakes his head, turning back toward Gurashi and walking toward him, leaving the cracks in the ground behind for the moment. "I don't suppose you have an idea of what's under those cracks? The very first impression you get, I mean."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up suddenly as he is addressed, returning to the present. "The cracks?" He asks, confused, then looks down at the ground. "...oh, I ..."

You have emoted: Gurashi finally takes a step, standing right on one of the cracks, foot breaching both sides of the divide. He considers the damage, then adds: "Nothing."

Tridemon tilts his head slightly, looking over at the cracks in the ground again. "... Reassuring." He says, before reaching out a hand and manifesting a fist-sized ball of ice-cold water, and drops it onto a number of the fractures.

You tilt your head, gaze softening as you frown.

You have emoted: As you say this, Gurashi looks momentarily distressed, and you hear a loud, low, distant grating noise, from somewhere beyond the circle. "...uhm - am sorry?" He offers, trailing after Tridemon and watching the icy water fall onto the cracks. Nothing changes - they do not fill and they do not worsen, but they do not repair either.

You think to yourself: / Stop apologizing *she steps up to join the other two, antennae bobbing in your direction* What are you doing now? /.

You think to yourself: ** ... **.

Tridemon looks around with a sudden frown. "And there that is AGAIN." He says, narrowing his eyes and letting waves of his psionic power- an incorporeal web of very slightly glowing threads- fill the immediate area, trying to pinpoint the source of that last textured silence.

You have emoted: Gurashi stops short of bumping into Tridemon, momentarily distracted and dazzled by the lights and colors of the psionic web. Like a spider's strings, you can feel every minute change, every breath of air - and you realize that the grating is not something to pinpoint, because it comes from multiple spots. The sound of vines expanding and tearing up the ground? Or the sound of something hard and sharp chipping away at another firm surface. Too loud, and too uncomfortable. A wash of uneasy blue makes the seafoam vines seem a little less familiar and friendly looking.

You fidget impatiently.

You think to yourself: / *again, you get the impression that to her, this all feels strangely ... familiar* /.

Aquamantic symbols suddenly project themselves upon the very air in dark blue light, fading after a brief moment.

Tridemon frowns at the vines, glaring a bit again, before letting the web coalesce into threads- dozens of wispy threads that are thinner than spider silk, barely there at all as he sends them down, into the cracks but very careful not to let them touch the edges. "So, Khep. Who do you know who's good at digging and undermining?"

You think to yourself: / *soft and confused* ... I... I-I don't... /.

You think to yourself: ** you begin to notice the vines becoming an even more unsettled shade, mauves and ambers creeping in to the otherwise relaxing green color **.

Tridemon points accusingly at the vines, one finger firmly extended. "You don't get an opinion!" He says as he continues to explore with the threads of energy.

You have emoted: Gurashi bows his head to continue staring at the flower he holds, clutching it dearly to his chest. As you continue to seek out the source of the sound, the entire mindscape quivers with uncertainty. As the threads go down you find not other beings but strong foreign emotion: what are you doing. A conflicting desire to both push you out and let you stay.

(clan): You say, "Khep and tridemon: *doing big brain stuff in gurashi's head* / gurashi: *off to the side being very unhelpful* I have a flower!"

Tridemon considers the new information, letting the threads of power slow and stop, staying in place. Attempting to communicate to that oddly out-of-place sensation the damage that is occurring up above. The cracks in the ground. Gurashi's growing sadness and passivity. The thorns and reactive vines...

You have emoted: It is hard to communicate with an idea without the aid of words. But the language is not entirely lost: as you let the threads settle, the feelings become a little clearer. Fear greets you first, tied to everything that often clings to fear - uncertainty, distrust. Shortly thereafter comes the isolation, any sense of security lacking. A helplessness. You can feel Gurashi's familiar presence above and around you, but these feelings are confusingly both his own, and not at all his. A disconnect between what should be and what is.

You think to yourself: / *you can feel her watching you, unsure of what more to do* ... so do we have invaders, or /.

You think to yourself: ** an odd pin-prickling sensation returns, settling on the back of your neck **.

Tridemon reaches up to scratch along the back of his head. "... I'm going to say no, but it's very weird. There's shades of personality dissociation."

You think to yourself: / Personality dissociation? *her attention sweeps back over to Gurashi* What does that ...... *she trails off, her gaze resting on the human* /.
You have emoted: Gurashi has not moved from his spot, still holding the flower, still watching everything transpire with a concerned expression. However, as Khep's gaze finds him, you realize that the webs have settled everywhere, including over the walls, over Khep, over Gurashi - over the slightly mismatched space directly behind him. You notice now what was not immediately noticed by its proximity to the man: another shape. His shape. As if his shadow were its own entity, albeit invisible. Entirely unnoticed, unperceived - were it not for the threads.

Tridemon looks over at Gurashi again, tilting his head slightly. "Oh. I... think I see. Gurashi, you've been spending a lot of time in a human shape, haven't you?"

You glance askance at Tridemon.

You have emoted: Gurashi speaks softly, voice strangely echoing across the circle. "...y.. yes?"

You think to yourself: / *she continues to stare at the shape, confused, antennae bobbing. She takes a tentative step closer, then another step away, circling him like a predator might stalk its prey, suspicious* /.

Tridemon ponders it a bit again... "I think that certain surface parts of you are thinking of yourself as human and other deeper, hive-linked parts of you are thinking of yourself as Kephera. Memory and desire and physiology colliding. So... take a step backwards, please? About half a foot, without looking."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up, watching Tridemon with his head canted to the left. You can feel Khep look as well, her antennae sagging in confusion. "Keeper, I'm not so sure..." But as she is speaking, you see Gurashi look down at the flower, his face awash with uncertainty. He does as he is told, lifting his right foot and sliding it back. He moves into the space where the empty something stands, and for a moment the strings overlap, coming instead to rest on Gurashi's shoulders than the something's.

You think to yourself: **as the spaces overlap, you suddenly feel pin-prickling all over, and then a numbness. The vine walls writhe with the sensation, and you can witness a few more thorns grow on the nearest tendril to you**.

You shiver violently.

Tridemon tilts his head slightly. "Past and present?" He murmurs, before narrowing his eyes... and letting the threads resting on you solidify enough to start pulling you forward and away from the empty space. Gently, but firmly.

You think to yourself: / *you can feel her lose her breath, raise a hand to her mouth* Tiso-- /.

You have emoted: Your threads settle, solidify... Gurashi's eyes lose their focus as they did the last time he was in this foreign presence. He looks momentarily dumbfounded, mouthing something that is unheard. It takes a strange amount of effort to tug, like trying to separate two powerful conjoined magnets, and he does not come easy. Clung to.

You have emoted: Gurashi finally manages to take one shaky step forward, away from whatever being occupies the air behind him, but you can see with what threads remain that it follows him close, matching his pace and settling in immediately behind him again. An ever-present shade.

You think to yourself: ** a sharp cracking noise reverberates throughout the mindscape. So loud, yet so far away, its source unknown **.

You think to yourself: ** come back **.

Tridemon watches with some concern, pulling the threads away. Neither pulling you forward, nor pushing you backward. "... your choice."

You have emoted: Gurashi takes another shaky step towards Tridemon, watching with widening eyes as the threads retreat, drawn back to you, He tilts his head, confused. You can see now he is gripping the flower so tightly in his hands it threatens to pierce skin, knuckles white. Behind him the shape looms now, its presence definitely known.

You think to yourself: / *you can feel her keeping her distance, going so far as to separate herself from the entity with your body* ...... /.

You think to yourself: ** swirls of confusion, shades of gray and lilac. the vines writhe, growing further **.

Tridemon watches the shape behind you, and then back to you... before offering one hand to you. "Your past will remain. I think you probably need more than a hug at this point. But that's what I can offer."

You have emoted: Gurashi takes another tentative step closer to Tridemon, looking at you but not quite seeing you. You can feel the entity follow, a shadow without any shade. Khep watches from a few paces away, taking a few more to distance herself without touching the walls themselves. You get the sense that she is quite literally seeing a ghost, though there is nothing to be seen.

You have emoted: Gurashi peels one hand off of the flower, dark purple indents left in his palm as he takes your hand loosely.

(clan): You say, "Me: *puts off backstory to protecc ghost* / ghost: *leaves* / me: well then."

Tridemon pulls you in for a hug, letting the starlit night of his mantle wrap around you, whispering something that can't quite be heard. It sounds quite a lot like hope, though.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out a soft little noise aloud, its head rested in Gurashi's lap. The man sits utterly motionless, partially slumped forward, tears sliding freely down his face, utterly lost in his mind.

You have emoted: Gurashi clutches your hand until it becomes impossible to hold, returning it to the flower, holding it to his chest as he rests his face against your shoulder. You can feel the other presence now that you are aware of it, the air behind him charged and bristling, awake now that it has been noticed.

You think to yourself: / *you get the sense she might cry, were she able. She speaks, soft and hurt* ... I do not know about you - but I am becoming quite sick of ghosts /.

You think to yourself: ** ghosts **.

You think to yourself: ** a lull of deep violet, and orange: Miss Sebitti .... **.

You think to yourself: ** another sharp, loud cracking noise somewhere. you can hear something hit another solid surface, like crumbled stone **.

You think to yourself: / ... I can't ... do it without some sort of visual - like the pool /.

Tridemon watches Khep for a moment in silence, before looking around. "I'm... not sure this place is stable enough to hold- ... Wait." He glances at the swirl of starlight that represents his Mantle, and he makes a sharp gesture, toward the floor. The cloud of starlit night swirls and shifts, before pulling quite a bit of itself away, connected to Tridemon with a thread of starry midnight. The swirl of starlit night shifts, becoming a copy of the Pool of Stars in miniature. floating a good foot above the cracked ground. It remains filled with starlit night for a moment before the waters turn silvery and reflective.

You think to yourself: **though the imagery is pleasant, and the intentions are good, the sudden presence of the illusion causes the vines to again shift, uncertain, a wash of blue, of mauve, of amber. A few more thorns sprout but nothing moves towards or away from you, merely accepting the change begrudgingly.

You think to yourself: **though the imagery is pleasant, and the intentions are good, the sudden presence of the illusion causes the vines to again shift, uncertain, a wash of blue, of mauve, of amber. A few more thorns sprout but nothing moves towards or away from you, merely accepting the change begrudgingly **.

You think to yourself: / *a gentle chirr, standing up straight* ... is this safe? /.

You have emoted: Gurashi says and does nothing, watching the waters as they appear, both hands lowering slightly, flower still gripped tight.

Tridemon watches you for a moment before looking into the silvery, reflective waters. "Hmm... Going to say that on the balance of things, it's probably safe. Ish."

You think to yourself: / *she sighs, tentatively watching the walls before stepping forward and approaching the two of you, mindful to keep herself separated from Gurashi by your presence. She looks at the pool, regarding her own reflection, antennae bobbing* This is not going to be easy /.

You think to yourself: ** gurashi looks at his own reflection, and the pin-prickling sensation briefly intensifies before settling against his back, out of bounds, oil and water **.

You think to yourself: / .... wait - safe-ish? /.

Tridemon looks over at Khep, an extremely bland expression on his face. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but this mindscape is becoming less stable. The safety of any action interacting with it at all is somewhat questionable."

You think to yourself: / ... should we -leave- ? *a pause, her own gaze drifting over to Gurashi, who doesn't seem to be paying attention* ... can we leave? /.

You have emoted: Gurashi seems to realize he's being addressed, his attention suddenly intense and focused on Khep's. "...of course you can." He says reassuringly, albeit flat. The vines undulate briefly.

Tridemon looks around again... "I'm not sure it's a good idea to leave. Or to stay. I can't tell which would be worse. ... I suppose I could..." The lucidian falls silent in the mindscape as he starts concentrating again, and the edges of his own mindscape, the shallow sea of starlight and clear water, starts manifesting outside of the beach, coming into contact with yours, starting to surround the sandy expanse.

You think to yourself: ** another bristle, a rush of emotions, the pin-prickling intensifying with uncertainty and what is that what is that -- but then suddenly, softer, familiar, calm - you recognize the presence of your gift now, loving kindness trying to permeate through this entity's oftentimes overpowering terror **.

You think to yourself: It is O-K. **trying to sound reassuring still** That is Tridemon.

You think to yourself: / *she waits, watches, listens, rubbing her arms and again looking at her own reflection. guilt surrounds her as she waits patiently for permission to begin* /.

Tridemon lets the sea of starlight surround the mindscape, the dome of crystalline spires in the near distance. "If it starts going especially badly, you can go into mine. You should begin soon, I think." He says, looking over at the wall of vines again.

You have emoted: Gurashi stares off into space, watching the pool, his own reflection, Tridemon's, Khep's. The princess lets out a soft sound, scratching the back of her head.

You think to yourself: / ...where did I ...

You think to yourself: / ...where did I ... /.

You think to yourself: / ... I remember - telling you the reason for our meeting. The beginning of our circle, with Nepra, and ... **she hesitates, buzzing softly** I do not remember if I told you of Pipui's involvement at that age. She came later, unfortunately. Or if I told you about Queen Neferti herself... /.

Tridemon closes his eyes, remembering for a moment. "Your mother was from the same brood, so you had a bit of leeway." He says before opening his eyes again.

You think to yourself: / *a soft buzz of affirmation* Right ... she was dear to us, when she was raised... *an awkward silence* /.

You have emoted: The pool ripples as Khepqet refamiliarizes herself with its mechanisms, reflecting herself, then, Nepra, then Gurashi - Tiso - and finally, Amun. Moments later, Pipui appears, a bright splash of gold and pink color among the rest. "Pipui came later. One of Nepra's friends from Mumhatuti." Gurashi studies the reflection, tilting his head, fidgeting with the flower in his hands.

Tridemon stands in silence within the mindscape, watching the reflecting pool, it's very difficult to tell what he's feeling from his expression, but his eyes seem a little bit unfocused even as he watches.

You think to yourself: / I never quite figured out what her problem was. **the image morphs, and the innocent looking moth-like kephera looks not at all the same, her expression twisted and grim** I could not blame it on Mumhatuti as a whole, because Amun was nothing like either of them /.

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes gloss over as the familiar pair of wasp kephera appear in the reflection. You can see Nepra, yelling at the top of her lungs, preparing to waylay some poor servant. But it is the smaller wasp that intervenes, catching her fist in all four of his own and returning her yells until at last her rage fades and the servant scuttles away, unscathed.

Tridemon seems a little more unfocused as he realizes something, and puts one hand over his face for just a moment. "I just realized... the position of Mumhatuti hive is pretty much directly below Talthos."

You have emoted: The images swirl again, and you watch as a separate time, Nepra prepares to turn her aggression against Tiso. But Amun is there, giving her a warning look, and she thinks better of it, instead blowing up elsewhere. A sense of relief. The two males look at one another, then at Khep, then burst into nervous laughter. You aren't quite sure if Khep has heard your comment, but Gurashi has, his gaze lifting from the pond to Tridemon. "...that's where..."

You think to yourself: ** a familiar flicker of memory - yours: towering resonators, clear skies... pain ... **.

You think to yourself: ** somewhere close - a grinding sound **.

Tridemon lets his arm fall back to his side. "... Yes. Didn't mean to interrupt. A small revelation that I had been missing for a while."

You think to yourself: / Yes - well, a disproportionate number of Princesses from there seem to be ... unstable *she adds bitterly. flashes of other kepheran females flash by, too quick to catch, but each unique and somewhat terrifying* Proximity, physiology. Diet. No one can be sure /.

You have emoted: Gurashi continues to watch Tridemon, looking mildly concerned.

You think to yourself: ** the walls undulate again, a few new thorns sprouting out. a very near grating sound occurs, and you look, and realize that it is the vine pushing up through the floor in a new spot, displacing some of the starry sea illusion with its presence **.

You think to yourself: / ........ *she sighs, and with her, a number of other voices sigh with her* /.

You think to yourself: / *her voice is soft, at first joined by many, then merely her own* When kephera come of age, they are assigned a duty, one that they must uphold in order for the hive to continue functioning at maximum efficiency. *another pause* The options are... different, of course. For males and females /.

You think to yourself: / Females have limited options: Princesses, nurses, servants, or sentinels. A rare few with martial prowess may be permitted to guard the tunnels beyond the Hive. *another pause* Very rare few.... ....though, most wind up nurses or servants /.

You have emoted: The image within the pool swirls, and for a moment you can see Khep, perhaps slightly younger, adorned in robes that make her look stiff and awkward. She looks as unhappy to see the memory as she looks in the memory itself. Gurashi's gaze drifts down, away from the pool, momentarily drawn back to the flower as the presence behind him bristles upon seeing Khepqet's reflection.

Tridemon continues to watch the reflecting pool, a kind of shimmering blue overtaking the white of his current robes for a few moments, unintentionally. "Badly fitted robes always make people look either terrible or adorable."

You think to yourself: / Can we agree terrible this time? /.

You have emoted: Gurashi's attention drifts to the splash of color as Tridemon's robes change, shifting where he stands.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... Mm, yep, closer to terrible."

You have emoted: The image fades, leaving only black, starry water, rippling, waiting further thought. Gurashi watches and waits, stroking the petal of the flower with this thumb, trying to remain present even as his attention drifts without warning.

You think to yourself: / *her voice is gentle and sympathetic* More males means more options. A very rare few will become Kings. Those most physically capable become warders, and those nearly so monks and warriors. *a pause* The rest become attendants, servants, scouts and *a longer pause* progenitors /.

You have emoted: Gurashi lightly turns the flower in his hand, attention drawn to it again.
Tridemon looks down into the pool again, and then at Khep, then back to Gurashi. "And which of those were Amun and Tiso meant to fill?"

You have emoted: For a moment... a happy image in the pool. You can see Tiso and Amun, older now, perhaps late teens, seated together and working on some complicated song on some crinkled piece of parchment. It is far too late to be awake, and the fresh wet smell of damp cavernous walls is met with the sound of crashing waves. Close to the sea. A familiar, special place. Khep says something unintelligible, and the trio laugh. This moment is powerful. You can feel Khep holding onto this moment, every detail meticulously tended to. Gurashi's attention is drawn to the pool again at the sound of the laughter, glazed eyes scanning the water, expression unreadable.

You think to yourself: ** the pin-prickling dies down.... numbness **.

You think to yourself: / Amun was always destined to be a Prince. For Mumhatuti - and Keph willing Nepra would eventually have become Mumhatuti herself /.

You have emoted: The memory continues. A gentle wash of warm pinks and fuchsia. A splash of gold. The laughter dies down, and you see both males look at each other, odd looks crossing their faces as start laughing again. Amun reaches out to rest his hand on Tiso's shoulder, watching the cicada return to his writing, antennae bobbing excitedly. And in that moment, you can sense Khep shift with discomfort. Something new surfaces. Something unnoticed. Gurashi's gaze flits to the princess, brow furrowing.

A fold appears in the tapestry of fate, heralding the birth of a new year as the Fates pen the next chapter into the neverending story that is Lusternia.
The depths of the dark of night herald a new beginning, and a new chance to make the world a little better.
It is now the 1st of Estar, 561 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 20 days until the New Moon

Tridemon notices Khep's deflection, but politely refrains from comment. Though for some reason, a ring of shimmering mercury appears around one of his fingers in the mindscape for the briefest of instants.

You think to yourself: / ...most times, you stay in the Hive you are born in /.

You think to yourself: / But there are rare instances, be it through request of Queens or Princesses that individuals get transferred. Whatever will best suit the hive. Make it function most efficiently. *the image fades to black* Nothing else above your duty /.

You think to yourself: ** .... nothing matters but .... **.

You think to yourself: ** ... **.

You have emoted: The pool ripples, black still. Then, flashes of color. Gurashi sinks to his knees beside the pool, his own hands falling into his lap as he watches the water come to life: Tiso, panicked, running up to Khep, clinging to her arms. He speaks, too fast to keep up with as she tries to listen and calm the kephera. But nothing seems to work, not until she reaches out and forcibly grabs him, pulling him into a hug to still his flailing limbs and frantic mannerisms.

You think to yourself: / *her voice soft, bitter* You should have stayed at Neferti. Been a cook. You didn't always get to do so willingly, but at least you enjoyed it /.

You think to yourself: / *her gaze sweeps back to the pool, which ripples* But no /.

You have emoted: She soothingly flattens his antennae, because there is nothing else to do. Gurashi's confused stare scans the pool, watching as it fades to black.

You think to yourself: / They - SOMEONE - assigned you to Akhari /.

You think to yourself: / And I could -never- prove it but... *she sounds distressed at this* I think Pipui had something to do with it. But, I could never... *a rush of frustrated chittering, conjoined buzzing and clicking of mandibles, shifting of many limbs outside the circle* /.

You have emoted: Gurashi blinks slowly.

Tridemon ponders it a bit. "Ahkari, Akhari... That's the- right. Yes."

You have emoted: Gurashi's attention slowly drifts up to Tridemon, staring blankly.

You have emoted: Gurashi continues to stare up at Tridemon, unable to mask his confusion at the name. Behind him, the presence begins to bristle once more, no, vibrate, a sensation like having been stung by countless bees starting to build in the air behind him.

Tridemon gives you a rather bland look in the mindscape, and behind him is the flicker of several shadows. A trill, a human, a merian, and a furrikin. The last is the clearest and lasts the longest, a long-eared furrikin female whose proportions are somewhat off for a rabbit-kin.

You have emoted: Gurashi's attention shifts to the shadows, watching them ponderously before returning his attention to Tridemon. He opens his mouth to speak, but the image in the pool shifts again, and you see a long, familiar tunnel in the undervault. You can practically hear the sound of waves crashing against the walls of the undersea. A sense of urgency.

You think to yourself: / *as the vision continues* Three years - they kept you there for -three years- before we were able to do something about it. *a rush of hive noise, a chaotic din. panic and anger* Amun, actually, was the one who finally ... resolved it /.

You have emoted: Gurashi touches the crystalline flower almost consolingly, attention drifting from the vision to the shadowy shapes behind Tridemon. There is another grating noise, followed by a loud POP, and crackle somewhere not far off, followed by hollow reverberation. The vines curl. The presence over Gurashi's shoulder continues to loom, fixated on the pool, weight nearly palpable against the human's back.

Tridemon turns back to the pool, his left eye taking on more colors than it has in reality. His expression is still calm and bland, but there's the sensation of something building, a gathering storm behind his back as his robes move without him shifting position or any movement of wind anywhere else.
You have emoted: Rushing down the hallway. The familiar entrance to the Akhari Hive. The lounge. Khep's remembered gaze shifts to look at Amun, who bears a similarly concerned expression. After some frantic conversation, the attendant, though baffled, wanders off, leaving the two kephera to stand awkwardly together. You watch Amun, his thin antennae flat against his head, his eyes narrowed, an aura of outrage and determination permeating from him as the two wait. Watching the other kephera causes Gurashi's eyes to fill with tears again, and he bunches his shoulders, his hands returning to his lap.

You think to yourself: ** terror beats birdlike at the inside of his ribs, roused by these recollection. the vines begin to turn an ugly shade of brown, as if wilting. why. -why- **.

Tridemon turns back toward you, the unseen storm and wind behind him dying for the moment, pushed elsewhere. The shallow sea of starlight seems sharper, somehow, and no longer calm, ripples like waves pushed by wind forming along the surface, but at a remove. "Not your fault. Never your fault."

You have emoted: Gurashi's perplexed gaze drifts up to Tridemon, then back down to the pool. The focus shifts, and you see the attendant returning with a much more tired, much more lean Tiso in tow. The kephera stops as soon as he lays eyes on Amun, then on Khep - you. He slumps where he stands, as if he's spent himself in a struggle, an unfamiliar bleakness settled on his features. He shuffles forward, and the three find one another, a tangle of limbs, clinging desperately, an eternity spent clinging to a sense of relief and wholeness.

You think to yourself: / *this moment feels bittersweet* He told me later that it was Nepra that helped him - Amun, I mean. *a gentle, incredulous laugh* After endless months, and an infuriating amount of paperwork, he was able to replace the former Prince of Akhari with himself /.

Tridemon keeps watching the pool, and though the storm-driven winds along the shallow starsea haven't grown stronger, neither have they abated. Completely unconsciously, a second glowing chain, pain in amethyst and garnet, passes through the left sleeve of his robe as if it weren't there, visibly wrapped around his forearm, upper arm, and wrist, though he hasn't seemed to notice at all.

You think to yourself: / You never told us what happened. *her voice is soft and gentle, joined by many, if only for a moment* Nor did we ask /.

You have emoted: The image fades to black, the water rippling, leaving only stars. She pauses, as if searching where to begin next. Gurashi gets a strange look on his face, then shivers, leaning forward to try and get away from the uncomfortable static clinging to his spine.

You think to yourself: / *her tone shifting, just her once more, matter-of-factly* As a Prince, he got an attendant, and - clever drone that he was - he picked you /.

You have emoted: You can see suddenly, the image of Amun, a vibrant stole draped a bout his shoulders, similar robes to what Khep had been wearing, though much more suited for him. Just behind him, Tiso follows along, furiously taking notes. He rips out a page, hands it to the wasp prince, who reads it over curiously, then laughs and hands it back. Gurashi continues to intently follow the vision, eyes narrowed.

You think to yourself: ** the presence hovers, stares just as intently at the vision, focused on Amun, never taking its eyes off Amun **.

You think to yourself: / ... you were atrociously bad at your job, but, he was patient enough /.

You have emoted: Gurashi shifts a little where he sits, again trying to move away from the overbearing presence that won't seem to separate. All around you, the vines grow a little broader, breaking up the ground nearest to them further, expanding outward, pushing against your own mindscape.

Tridemon lets his attention flicker away from the pool at this point, raising his head as his mindscape presses back- the waves calming for now, the shallow starsea projecting a steadfast presence. Hold fast. Be patient. This is not the time to run, for although much is lost, more yet can be preserved. He notices the chain wrapped around the outside of his robes at this point, and frowns at it until it retreats back underneath the white garment.

You have emoted: The vines continue to push back, then settle, growing limp against against the other familiar, reassuring mindscape. Gurashi stares at the pool, his expression again unreadable as the images change again. An impression that, even into adulthood, this trio remains close. You witness Amun coming into his own, falling into his Princely roles with ease. Tiso follows near to the other kephera, like a shadow, perking up and smiling broadly each time he is looked at or addressed. Khep watches. Her golden antennae twitch, her reflection momentarily visible even through the vision within the pool.

You think to yourself: / *continuing to watch. More flickers of memory, the three continuing to meet, but no longer for ball games. mundane discussions of life, of goings-on, gossip. Which Princess selected which mate, equal teasing of Khep as to when it will be her turn - Tiso obliviously listening beside them, merely happy to be included* It really was ... for what it was - about as perfect as it could be /.

You have emoted: Gurashi watches as his former self and Amun bid a farewell wave to Khep, and the vision hesitantly grows dimmer, and dimmer, moving away.

You think to yourself: / *morosely* The worst part was not being from the same hive as you, anymore. Being the visitor. *a gentle scoff* /.

Tridemon settles down next to the pool, finally taking a somewhat more relaxed approach as he sits. His left eye is still more colors than it really ought to be, but fewer than before. "And life goes on... For a while?"

You think to yourself: / *you get the sense she is struggling to work out how to move forward, the words stuck, the story stagnates* ... for a while, yes /.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up and over at Tridemon, a familiar light returning to his face. He sits up a little straighter, grateful for the immediate company before returning to watch the pool expectantly.

You think to yourself: ** a bristle... somewhere, crumbling **.

You think to yourself: / ... you remember how I said that, in order for a hive to run efficiently, duty must come before all else, yes /.

You have emoted: The image in the pool swirls. A collection of memories, fleeting but precious. More encounters as adults. Sometimes joined by Nepra, but mostly without the towering wasp's presence. Yet as the visions continue to pass, and you watch Amun and Tiso become closer, you get a sense of disjointedness. Third wheeling. You try to repress it, but it is hard not to. Suddenly there are inside jokes you no longer get, events that were only funny if you were there. And Khep was not there. Gurashi glances towards the Princess's reflection, fidgeting with the flower.

You think to yourself: ** a soft wash of mauve **.

You have emoted: The flood of short encounters continue, and with it a growing sense of distance, a subliminal sense of jealousy. As the imagines fade to black, Khep waves her hand dismissively, then looks towards Gurashi with a frown.

Tridemon watches the water in silence, before looking over at Khep again... "I can tell you know that this social distance was inevitable in whatever circumstances held true. The physical distance was just an added point of pain."

You have emoted: The princess looks at you, then back down at the pool, watching the surface reflection change again to the familiar brightly colored moth from before. On Tridemon's other side, Gurashi leans forward, trying as well to view the princess.

You think to yourself: / *another wave of guilt....* /.

You think to yourself: / *gently* ...when Pipui finally announced that she'd picked her partner, and she had picked -you-... *an awkward silence* It was like the whole nightmare was going to start over again. Her ruling mattered more than Amun's, Prince or not /.

You have emoted: Gurashi sits up a little straighter, tilting his head.

You think to yourself: / So, Amun hatched a plan... /.

Aloud, you say, "Wait. Why'd Miss Pipui pick me."

You think to yourself: / *an awkward silence* /.

Tridemon blinks, and looks at you for a moment, before back at Khep, raising an eyebrow. "Pipui. Colorful moth-morph, about the size of a large turkey. With Gurashi, who, while admittedly a bit small for a Kephera, is well over six feet tall."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... I have decided that I do not want to know."

You think to yourself: / *a bitter laugh* Even by kepheran standards - Tiso. You're pretty /.

You think to yourself: / I never asked her myself. I always assumed it was that /.

You think to yourself: / *she says this light-heartedly, as if trying to lift the mood* /.

You have emoted: Gurashi does not look like his mood has been lifted.

You have emoted: Another series of imagines. Quiet, frantic discussion held in closed, darkened rooms. Tiso looks as terrified as he did before, with both Khep and Amun work to calm. Gurashi watches the images pass, leaning forward again to get a better look.

You think to yourself: ** the pin-prickling sensation lingers, again intently focused on the image of Amun as he moves about the pool **.

You think to yourself: / You... /.

You think to yourself: / *there is a moment where the hive noise becomes much louder than she, making her words garbled and lost* /.

Tridemon lifts his head to look at what's above for a moment, before glancing over at Khep. "... Do you need me to growl at them to keep it down a little bit? They might listen."

You think to yourself: / *her voice returning* No, no ... it's just - it is... /.

You think to yourself: / *conjoined with others* We do not often talk about desertion /.

You think to yourself: / Duty above all else /.

The call of a cicada welcomes the setting of the sun and the coming night.

Tridemon looks back at the waters of the pool before him, falling silent.

You have emoted: The image changes again. You can feel yourself growing frustrated, feeling hopeless, watching as Tiso finally manages to calm down, but not without the consoling hand of Amun on his shoulder. Something there. And even though she is doing her best to retell this tale in a positive light, she is unable to fully mask the bit of envy felt in this moment. Suddenly, Gurashi speaks, though you can tell it is Khep who is talking: "You were going to leave."

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches up to touch his mouth just after he has spoken, casting a glance in Khep's direction.

You think to yourself: / *her voice is flat now* Amun was going to use his access to the books and make it seem like you two were going to go check on one of our overvault expeditions. It probably would have worked /.

You think to yourself: ** the static briefly intensifies, intently watching the pool, watching Amun still, watching the wasp cup Tiso's face in all four of his hands and say something earnest but unintelligible **.

You think to yourself: / *suddenly, all three turn, and the vision ends suddenly* .... but someone found out /.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks towards Khep again as the reflection fades to black, but rather forming another image, it stays perfectly empty. He wipes his eyes, looking first at Tridemon, then at the princess seated on your other side, speaking softly. "... Miss Khep...?"

You think to yourself: / *a strange sensation. you can tell she is picking and choosing her memories very carefully, like one would choose words /.

You have emoted: The pool continues to remain mostly black, the occasional flicker of color gracing its surface. The continued, distinct attempt at suppressing some things while letting others flourish. The work is hard. Gurashi scans the water, unable to make out any familiar shapes for himself. He glances nervously back at Tridemon, then beyond to the princess again.

You think to yourself: / *gentle, morose* Had it only been Neferti who found out, maybe the punishment would have been less severe /.

You think to yourself: / *the images in the pool shift again, and a face you might mistake for Nepra's appears. But no, it is bigger, more intimidating* But Mumhatuti was there - and Amun was of her's... /.

Tridemon gives a heavy sigh as he watches, little flecks of light circling his head for a moment, split evenly between dark, bloody red and swirling blue and yellow together.

You have emoted: Gurashi's attention returns to Tridemon again, head bowing forward a little. He tentatively reaches out, barely touching your arm in the mindscape, sparks of white floating about his hand. "...are O-K?"

You think to yourself: ** suddenly, l o u d. But not in a sound sort of way. The sound of blood rushing into your ears and of static scratching along. a violent jolt of movement, a sense of fear - no **.

You glance askance.

Tridemon gives you a smile that has too many teeth that are far too sharp to be properly reassuring. "Oh, it's nothing." He lies, badly concealing the rising levels of anger that are being suppressed. The only reason it's not spilling out more is due to the fact that the subject or subjects of his ire aren't present.

(clan): Tridemon says, "Bizi can be penciled in for shrimp at a later date."

You have emoted: Gurashi stares at Tridemon, his gray eyes wide and filled with concern. You aren't sure he believes you, but before he can argue, suddenly the image in the pool is chaotic. A swirl of color rather than any coherent shape. You can hear loud yelling, feel the panic. Panic from Khep. Panic from Tiso. A thousand voices all collectively chattering, trying to see what's going on, what's happening, those able to gathering. You try to get closer, but there are other kephera in the way, even up here. You hear Amun arguing loudly among the ruckus, see Tiso standing with all four hands clenched before his chest, looking terrified. Some of the crowd jeers, while others look confused. A rare few look immensely worried.

You think to yourself: ** the sensation intensifies - no no **.

You think to yourself: / *her own gaze bereft, watching the pool* Duty to the hives above all else /.

You have emoted: Amun steps up before two imposing female kephera - Queens, you can recognized - the fatter of the two listens, expression unreadable, but the leaner one sneers. Her own coloration is not too far off from Nepra's, bright splashes of orange among a sea of gold and black. And now, you can also see Nepra, opposite the crowd. Her own expression is oddly twisted with confusion, with anger, as she listens to her brother argue his case to the Queens. Gurashi's attention drifts from Amun to his own past self, stiff as a board and standing a few paces behind Amun's protective stance.

You think to yourself: ** no **.

You have emoted: The image abruptly burns a bright shade of red, all figures and forms replaced with splashes of color. A great sigh. It is hard to sort through the din, though you can tell that Khep is trying to do so herself, to make the recollection less jarring. But how does one make this less jarring? A unified sense of shock settles in among the hive, and you can't tell if it's in the recollection, or in the present. The images slowly return, now washed with red, and Amun no longer stands before the Queens, but lies in a bloody pool of his own remains, Mumhatuti standing over him with blade in hand. Slowly, her attention turns to Tiso, who continues to stand petrified only a few paces off, his own gaze stuck on the now dead kephera nearby. Gurashi's grip relaxes from the flower, his expression unreadable.

You have emoted: Gurashi meets eyes with himself in the vision, and suddenly it is like staring into the face of death itself. Despondent, despairing, ravaged by terror and by guilt. He leans away from the pool a little in his spot, hands falling from the flower and pressing against the ground to push back.

Tridemon flares with bright, bloody red light that quickly gets suppressed, only a few motes of light flitting about his head and eyes before they fade, glancing down at the crystalline flower that you have let go of, and then back up to your face.

You think to yourself: ** no no no no no no no no - the wall of vines around you tremble **.

You think to yourself: / *her attention remaining on the pool, on the Queen as she takes a step towards Tiso. Her voice is soft, sympathetic, especially now as you realize that there is a high-pitched noise that stands out among the din: Nepra. Nepra, screaming as her world crumbles around her, rushing to the front of the crowd and finding her brother's body, cradling it* Since you were not the one who instigated the plan and abused your position, your sentence was light /.

You have emoted: Gurashi squirms where he sits, clearly desperate to get away, to stop looking, but glued in place by a force beyond his control. His expression is nothing short of terrified, the color drained from his skin, gray eyes wide and haunted. He watches as the vision in the pool fades from Tiso, rendered prone before the Queen with one arm raised protectively.

You think to yourself: / *now staring at the black, empty pool* You were exiled - antennae cut, banished - forever /.

You think to yourself: ** the clinging presence seems to pulse gently against Gurashi's back even at this reveal. continuing to fester, unsatisfied **.

Tridemon sits in silence, raising his right hand, palm open. The shallow, starry sea rises as well, though not as a wall of water, but rather a cloud of luminous mist that surrounds your mindscape- still steadfast, but encompassing as well. No room to run away, but trying to be comforting, to communicate that there's no -need- to run, either. "... the exile wasn't the end of it, was it?" It's hard to tell who he's addressing the question to. Khep, you, the presence behind you...

You think to yourself: ** the vines continue to diminish, no less gnarly, some still growing thorns even in the comforting presence of the mist - a wash of ruddy colors. a deep pit in your stomach **.

You think to yourself: / *she sits quiet for a long time, staring at the pool before looking at you* .... there was not much to tell after that ... *She reaches out to touch the watery surface, brushing it off* But the years ... /.

You have emoted: Whether or not she's projected it - you can hear Nepra now, calling out, angry, her face stained by her tears, mandibles clicking in anger. Threatening to find you. Threatening to find and -kill you-. And you must hurry. Navigating through darkened tunnels, following a trail of blood that at times seems to go cold. Gurashi glances over his shoulder at the wall of vines, the flower falling out of his lap as he turns over, watching the mindscape surroundings change worriedly.

You think to yourself: / Nepra was ... understandably upset. *a sense of bitterness, more twisting through tunnels* Her new goal became to not rest until She got Tiso's head too /.

You think to yourself: / ... we were both Sentinels, which meant we knew the layout of the tunnels. And really - it was only luck that led me to you before her /.

You think to yourself: / *In the pool, you can see the surroundings better. You are standing on a ledge that slopes down steeply, not far before you, the sound of crashing waves, the Undersea of Keph lights from some sea port shimmering in the distance. despite being enclosed, the wind here is so powerful, and a gust pulls you so hard you reach for the wall for support. you can make out in the mid-distance, near to where the cliff gives way to tumultuous waves, Tiso's figure, panicked, shouting, desperate to get away from something* But by then it was too late /.

You have emoted: Gurashi listens, but he can no longer look at the pool, instead watching as the towering vine walls of his mindscape continue to wither slowly one by one, his brow furrowed in confusion and worry.

You have emoted: The struggle continues as your feet slip on wet stones, and you see Tiso slip too, falling out of view into blackness. you are overcome with panic, until you realize you can still hear his jumbled, frantic cries continuing uninterrupted until you reach him. you catch a glimpse of his face in the dim light, caked in bright red-orange blood and distorted with fear, unseeing and agonized. Gurashi glances at the pool, hearing his own familiar cries, then looks away again, rising to his feet. Tiso looks towards the cliff, back to you, back to the cliff, looking like he'd much rather jump - n o. you reach for his flailing arms, and hold on tight. he tries to shake you but you keep holding on, holding tight until he stops shouting and you feel every bit of fight go out of him. and you stand there together, at the top of the cliff for what seems like ages, not saying anything. and then it's all you can do to lead him away, away from here, where Nepra will find him and ruin what little is left.

Tridemon continues staring into the pool, before glancing back to you. His attention turns to the walls of vines, and down at the crystalline flower... which he simply picks up and sets back down on the ground about six inches closer to you, without comment.

You think to yourself: ** a new feeling now, less of fear and more ... resignation ... a wash of blues settle in over the still dwindling walls **.

You think to yourself: / *she reaches out, touching the pool gently as the image fades, replaced with darkness* I kept you hidden for ... *softer, sympathetic* years /.

You think to yourself: / *she continues to touch the pool, though no images surface save her own reflection* It was all I could think to do. If Nepra found you, she'd kill you /.

You think to yourself: / ... I didn't expect it to go on for so long, though... I thought, maybe you'd get better, but /.

You have emoted: Gurashi doesn't even seem to notice the flower anymore, turned fully away from the pool, nervously wringing his hands together, staring intently at the partially obscured, fractured ground at the base of the nearest vines. Panic is etched across his face, and perhaps a touch of nausea.

Tridemon looks over the ground at the base of the vines, and then at the pool again. "Some injuries are more than physical. Traumas linger."

You think to yourself: / *you see another flicker of color in the pool, and for a moment you see Tiso, his antennae still freshly severed, his expression blank. You can hear Khep speak, and Tiso looks at her, listening, but un-hearing* ... I found you every day. And we moved when we needed to, whenever Nepra came too close ... /.

You have emoted: Watching the pool, you get a sense of monotony. Wake up. Wait. Khepqet comes. Eat. Khepqet makes sure our antennae is not getting worse. Khepqet fills the silence with stories. Sometimes they are even happy stories. But each day wears on, and what little bit of light remains in Tiso's face begins to burn out. The routine becomes less desperate, and more mundane. A necessity born out of love, now starting to wear thin. Every. Day. Wake up. Sentinel duties. Avoid Nepra. Check on Tiso. Move Tiso. Gurashi exhales, back still turned to the pool, the sound strained.

You think to yourself: / The last few days we were together, you were ... talking about music, or something /.

You think to yourself: ** a rush of pin-pricks. the walls continue to crumble - something isn't right with this story **.

You think to yourself: / ....we got into a .... *she hesitates* A HUGE fight about it /.

You have emoted: The pool ripples, and all you see now is an abandoned campsite in an otherwise bleak and unassuming portion of a tunnel. Gurashi continues to keep his back to the pool, visibly trembling with adrenaline he doesn't seem to be aware of. He reaches out with a hand, as if pulling up from the ground, and the nearest vine trembles, responding to the mental command... but it does not last long, coiling back in with the rest of the wall instead.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... the Voice of Mahalla."

You think to yourself: / *shaking her head* Whatever it was ... you just kept going on and on about it. And, I -didn't- hear it, So I thought you'd gone mad, or worse... /.

You think to yourself: / I ... *another wash of guilt* didn't come see you that night, because I was so ... -mad- at you /.

You think to yourself: / Because of everything that had happened and suddenly you wanted to ... leave? /.

You think to yourself: / *frantic sounding* ...and I couldn't leave - but you couldn't come back. And I didn't want you to leave either /.

You have emoted: The pool ripples to reveal an empty campsite. "When I did come back, you were already gone," Gurashi says aloud as Khep speaks. He reaches up to cover his mouth, looking momentarily ill. Khep glances over, mindfully touching her own throat.

You think to yourself: / ... you were already gone /.

You think to yourself: / ...no longer connected to the hive, so, I couldn't find you /.

You think to yourself: / *her voice wavers, the image fading* .... I thought a fisher maybe got you ... or Nepra.... *her hands wring together* /.

You think to yourself: / *she heaves a great sigh* And I never got to know .... /.

Tridemon stares at the pool that lingers on the abandoned campsite, then up at Khep again, then at you... and the presence behind you. "That story sounded hard to tell." He says, finally, still staring at the presence behind you. "... I think I... need to... ...I have no idea if this is going to work." He says with a sigh that is somewhat lesser than Khep's, drawing out a thread of starlit night from the pool, pulling it up to snake along the floor, around and behind you. then up, to where he thinks that the presence's heart would be situated in a physical body. An invitation.

You have emoted: Gurashi is turned away from you now as well, his knees drawn to his chest, arms wrapped tightly around his knees and hands gripping opposite elbows, as if he were literally holding himself together. Behind him, the presence continues to vibrate. Something is wrong, something is wrong with this story. Wrong wrong -wrong-. Still confused, still angry and hurt. The thread is small, unassuming, not a danger... and yet ...

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

You have emoted: There is a great jolt that runs through your body, as if you've connected yourself to an electric charge, painful and numbing and foreign: WHY. The sensation is brief, and you feel both it and Gurashi pull away uncertainly as the disembodied being again rips out a soundless wail, a tortured sensation: WHY. Another vine nearer to you withers, creaking as it gives under its own weight, crashing outside of sight of the circle. A sharp sound like breaking glass.

You think to yourself: / *you can feel her withdraw in alarm as one of the vines comes crashing down. worry graces her features* W... was it too much? /.

You think to yourself: ** N O **.

Tridemon keeps the thread in place even through the jolt. Unmoved by pain, a thread of dreams in the night, an invitation. "Gurashi- Tiso. What's wrong with the story? Can you tell us?" He asks, his voice soft, and... for some reason, his left eye filling with starlit night. "You need to let us know. Or none of us can do anything about it."

You have emoted: Gurashi leans forward, pressing a shaky hand to the ground, as if he's trying to crawl away - from YOU. You can see the entity now, partially illuminated by the thread. Synapses begin to fire all at once, and all around you flashes of color burst like fireworks, blinding, disorienting. Among all the color: an inky partially opaque stain that both is and isn't now clings to Gurashi, its own arms wrapped around the man's shoulders as if carried piggyback. An overpowering sense of distrust settles into the mindscape, and one of the nearest vines suddenly comes crashing down a little too close for comfort, causing the cracked ground to shudder.

You think to yourself: / *as she watches the vine drop, you realize that she is still as guilty as she was at the start of the tale, if not more so now that it's been told* .... something ... wrong with the story.... ? /.

Tridemon doesn't look away from you, not even blinking here. "The presence. The memory. Doesn't think it was told right. Something... missing or twisted, somehow?"

You have emoted: Khepqet sits up straighter in her spot, watching Gurashi crawl another few meager inches further away. "...what - you WANTED to see him die?" Gurashi suddenly comments defensively, though you realize it is Khep talking through him, intentional or not. You watch as the string lurches, the figure ripping away unwittingly, then suddenly reaching out and clinging even tighter to Gurashi, desperate to stay, to exist. "Or you want to relive getting exiled?" Khep snaps through Gurashi.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Or maybe he just saw something you never did. That's how perspectives work."

You think to yourself: ** sad, heavy, sad, s a d that somehow fills you like a burning hot liquid, then melts you away and leaves nothing but a vacant space in the whole of your torso - a sensation like falling, not toward or into, but away from, up and down no longer feel separated - clinging tighter, parsing through memories that feel foreign and familiar **.

You have emoted: Nearby, another vine falls. As you look, you can see now that the once towering, healthy looking vines are now a shocking slate gray, looking like statues, petrified. One in your line of sight cracks, then crumbles into a thousand pieces, leaving a cloud of gray-green dust in its wake. Khep sits up to look at another vine across the way that does the same thing, antennae twitching. Suddenly, she looks very nervous. "Something ... he ... saw ...," she rasps out through Gurashi , leaving the man silently struggling for air between words.

Tridemon looks up, tilting his head at Khep this time. "... The first and best way to make guilt go away is to tell the truth. There is pain in it. Such pain. But truth is the first step to absolution. Always." He says, a flash of something bright behind him- a pillar of topaz light and a shining book, that stay for only an instant.

You have emoted: Khepqet's eyes glaze over, and she shakes her head, looking at Tridemon with a tortured expression. Another vine crumbles, and then another, chrysanthemums crushed under thorns and petrified stone - a sorry display for having once been such a lovely thing. "I can't," Gurashi rasps again, unable to move any further, crumpling in his spot. You see the presence rip away again... then suddenly settle its gaze behind you. The sound of stone crushing underfoot, just behind where you are seated.

You think to yourself: // *from just behind you, her voice low, head canted to the side** If Khepqet were to do that, *her gaze pauses on each of you* it would mean admitting she was the villain all along //.

Tridemon turns his head slightly, looking over and behind. "Oh. Hello, Nepra. Are you here to help? Because if not, you and I will be having WORDS." He says, standing up, a chain of blue-violet crystal sliding into his right hand from his sleeve, disentangling from his arm. Full of gentleness, familial love... and the discipline of a caring father, the firmness of a loving mother. But... the chain doesn't quite behave as it should. swaying and bending, before striking out like a serpent, swinging and wrapping around Khepqet's arm, not aimed at Nepra at all. "Memory, Unyielding."

You think to yourself: / *she is too taken aback by Nepra's sudden appearance to have words, staggering to her feet, nearly into the pool. She looks down, mandibles clicking, yanking against the chain with a snarl* Keeper?! What-- /.

You think to yourself: // HELP *she laughs, a sound joined by dozens of other confused sounding kephera* I WOULD TELL YOU WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE STORY //.

You have emoted: Gurashi turns at the voice, still huddled fearfully in his spot. The entity recoils at Nepra's presence, desperately clawing at the man, as if pulling him to safety. But Gurashi doesn't move away, staring at the wasp as still as a statue.

You think to yourself: // THAT WHICH KHEPQET IS TOO COWARDLY TO CONFESS *she steps closer, though she does not raise her weapon. her wings fan and flutter behind her, creating a droning buzz and a ripple of air that makes the starry air swirl* //.

Tridemon tilts his head as he looks over at Khep again. "Memory, Unyielding. A mother's love will not let you go. A father's care will set you on the right path. A firm hand that will restrain wrongdoing, and protect you as well. It is not angry. Perhaps... disappointed."

You think to yourself: / *her voice is ragged, on the verge of tears* Keeper let -go- /.

You think to yourself: // *another step* SHOW THEM, KHEPQET //.

You have emoted: Gurashi's frightened gaze flits from Nepra to Tridemon to Khepqet, tears sliding down his face, too petrified to move from his huddled spot on the floor. The entity continues to claw desperately, eager to get aWAY but it cAnNOT without him.

You think to yourself: // *deafeningly loud and enraged - she may as well be speaking with the whole hive* TAKE SOME DAMNED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONCE //.

Tridemon glances over at Nepra, his eyes growing hard. "I have another chain if you grow too rowdy, child. It's not nearly as nice as this one." He says, letting said chain slide out from under his sleeve, glowing a painful red. Isolation and loneliness, pain and bleeding, so much blood. Pain in Amethyst and Garnet. And while it, too, rises and coils in readiness, it does not strike or grasp. Yet.

You think to yourself: // *she stops, but not out of fear for the chain - she is grinning, watching Khepqet with some sick sense of amusement* //.

You have emoted: The pool ripples unwittingly as Khep struggles against the chain, desperate to free herself from it. Strange. The images you saw before, of Amun and Tiso and her - gathered together... watching Amun endearingly dust something from Tiso's shoulders, causing the shorter kephera to excitedly reply. A nauseating wave of guilt and -jealousy-. The image flickers, another moment of the three of you - something you are separated from, and an overwhelming sense of jealousy. "-Stop-," Gurashi calls out, lips curling into a snarl to match Khepqet's. "Keeper I am -warning you-."

You think to yourself: ** so much going on so many colors and this thing pulling at me and blood rushing to ears and nepra is so very LOUD and why is khep so upset **.

You think to yourself: ** khepqet **.

You think to yourself: ** stop doing this khep, do not make me yell at tridemon **.

You think to yourself: // *she continues to watch with a delightfully twisted grin, one of her four eyes trained on the pool, the others on you* //.

Tridemon gives a smile that is less twisted than Nepra's, but rather sharper. Older. There's little anger in it, no malice. Simply a great deal of determination. "The story, Khepqet. Or should I try my hand at a little creative storytelling about a princess who wanted what a prince had very, very badly?"

Sharply, you exclaim, "Shut up!"

You have emoted: Gurashi groans after he's called out, crumpling in his spot. Another vine cracks sharply, the sound reverberating painfully as it crashes onto the beach outside, dead miserable imagination spilling into your mindscape. Khepqet sneers as the pool again ripples behind her, and you see ... Nepra. Consoling Khepqet. The two of them speaking quietly - about Tiso. About Amun. No anger involved - you get the sense that these two were once very, very close.

Tridemon watches the scene unfolding in the pool, turning his attention to the images unfolding there. "Actually... you know what? Telling the truth about something is the second step to being forgiven." He says, apparently continuing a thread of thought from before Nepra's arrival.

You have emoted: Khepqet jerks again at the chain, with such force she brings herself to her knees, unable to look at the pool. The two princesses continue to speak, before they both shuffle off, and are next found speaking to Neferti herself... No. She pulls, desperate but weak, turning her furious gaze instead to Nepra. "You -bitch-," Gurashi snarls off to the side as Khepqet's mouth moves, a number of voices joining.

Tridemon glances over at Khep again, something sad in his eyes instead of angry, now. Disappointment. "If you're not going to stop using him as a mouthpiece, I am going to act against it." He says mildly, turning back to the pool.

You have emoted: Neferti listens, her expression placid, head canted curiously to the side. As Khep speaks, it is apparent she is tormented about what she is doing, gesturing frantically, to herself, to Nepra, to everything around her. She clasps her hands together pleadingly, and the Queen looks aside thoughtfully. Before either can further speak, the pool ripples, and all three turn their attention to Mumhatuti, standing a few paces away, expression furious. The feeling that settles in is intense, and terrifying: you've made a grave mistake. "-Keeper-," Gurashi begs, then hears your words, falling silent.

You think to yourself: // *she takes another step closer to the pool, no less intimidating even though she is not currently raging* YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SPEAK DOWN TO ME *she intones at Khepqet, her gaze drifting to you, hands still firmly gripping her self-made polearm* //.

Tridemon seems slightly annoyed at something, and finally looks up, directly at Nepra. "Do you have an inside voice? Or at least something a little quieter than when the Necromentate starts to gloat about something?" He asks.

You think to yourself: // *amused* WHAT IS THIS 'INSIDE VOICE' *she demands in her usual loud tone, oblivious to the point of the question* //.

You have emoted: Gurashi twitches, still huddled over, no longer looking at Khepqet or Nepra or Tridemon, but at the pool. He watches as Mumhatuti says something, then dismissively waves a hand, and all three females chase after her. Panic. A mistake - it was a mistake. An honest mistake. You can definitively make out Khepqet pleading with the other Queen, tailing along. Another vine crumbles. The walls have nearly all come down now.

Tridemon shakes his head slightly as he watches the gaps in the walls grow, his attention returning to the pool, the glowing red chain moving again... to drape itself over his shoulders so that it's not floating about in the middle of the room like a particularly gaudy party decoration.

You have emoted: The cluster of females emerges in a courtyard. Mumhatuti speaks out, and the passing kephera in the streets pause, then begin to gather, curious. Nepra and Khepqet look equally concerned, trying to address Neferti, but the elder Queen says nothing, gazing out neutrally toward the crowd. Among the still sea of bodies, you can see some struggle, and eventually, Amun and Tiso are both dragged into the center of the square, each looking equally stupefied. The presence clinging to Gurashi's back flares again, ripples, response to seeing this, desperate to fix it.

You think to yourself: // *her voice growing once again angry as she watches the scene unveil itself* YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE, KHEPQET OF NEFERTI //.

You think to yourself: ** fix it fix it fix it fix it **.

You have emoted: For a moment, the familiar scene of Amun pleading their case before the Queens. You now see what you hadn't been able to before: he is also pleading to Khepqet and Nepra. Every word he says is earnest, genuine, of no ill intent. He reaches for Tiso, taking the other kephera's hand in his own and standing resolute, having spoken his peace... stunned silence among the hive. Khepqet sinks now to both knees, the chain growing limp as she no longer fights it, hanging her head. "I'm so sorry," Gurashi mumbles, his voice low.

You think to yourself: // *as Khepqet's presence diminishes, Nepra's seems to grow, her rage intensifying as she watches* //.

You think to yourself: ** a familiar prickle of anticipation - oh no no **.

Tridemon looks on, his face nigh expressionless as he looks over at Khep again, and back to the pool. "Nepra. Please don't act. Not until Gurashi is back on his feet and coherent. I'll need to ask him a question before anything else."

You have emoted: It all happens so fast. You think everything is going to be fine. Neferti is practically smiling. But suddenly, the taller Queen steps forward, and you watch with one cruel swipe of a curved blade, she cuts Amun down, sending a ripple of shock throughout the colony. The death is sudden, sharp. In his sudden demise his muscles all clench, and his hand entwined with Tiso's continues to remain as such even as he collapses to the ground. The tragedy was so fresh to everyone then - and it still is to this down. Nepra bristles behind you as Khepqet lets out a little cry. There is nothing to offset this despair. Gurashi trembles like a piece of paper, unable to look away though he wants to do nothing but.

You think to yourself: // *her grip tightening on her weapon - you're unsure if your words have been heard* YOU? A MALE? YOU WOULD ORDER ME? //.

You think to yourself: ** another vine crumbles nearby - fix it **.

Tridemon turns his attention back to Nepra, looking at her. "It was a request. I realize you might not be overly familiar with the word 'Please', but I started the sentence that way for a reason." He turns back toward the pool. Toward Gurashi. Standing in silence.

You think to yourself: // *a sneer* I NOTE NO DIFFERENCE -- //.

You think to yourself: / *bitterly* Shut -up- Nepra /.

Tridemon seems to come to a decision, the glowing red chain receding- actually sinking under his skin at this point, fading from sight entirely. The hand holding the chain of blue-violet crystal lets go, although the chain wraps around his arm to make sure that it doesn't end up dangling. And then... he leans in close to you, kneeling, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you close.

You have emoted: Gurashi says and does nothing, remaining there in the fetal position, rocking back and forth even as he is held. You look to Amun's body - your sweet, kind, gentle friend. What. Why. What did he ever do but love Tiso. He did everything for Tiso. The focus shifts from Khepqet, this time strange, unsure - no. Nepra? ...glass shatters in your head. Now you feel as if you'll explode. You've never experienced anger like this before. Your kind, sweet, gentle BROTHER. Too GOOD for these Hives and too GOOD for this fate. Too GOOD for that MALE. The conflicting viewpoints ripple in the pool, fighting for control...

You have emoted: And then the pool ripples again, and a third view... Gurashi exhales softly, staring at the image in the pool. So close. Amun is right there, holding your hand. But why doesn't he move? And why is everyone suddenly so angry? There are voices yelling, thousands of confused kephera trying to parse what happened. Someone is screaming?? Mumhatuti says something but you don't want to move. Wait. What happened. Confused. Now Khepqet is speaking, blocking the Queen from getting any closer. But the Queen talks back, and now they are going at it, and is Khepqet in trouble too?

Tridemon looks up, watching the conflicting viewpoints in the pool, poised to intervene when yours appears, and he stops... watching again, still keeping you close. "Gurashi. I'm so sorry that you suffered so."

You have emoted: Your words seem to fall on deaf ears. The Queen Mumhatuti says something again. Talking to Miss Khep now. Try again to rouse Amun but for some reason he feels gone. Khepqet stares as Mumhatuti, stares at you, then firmly decides something. Nepra SHRIEKS upon hearing this, and you are forced to let go of Amun's hand, shoved aggressively away by the mourning, bigger female. Mumhatuti gives Khep princess her own blade, swinging an arm to point at Tiso. Tiso still doesn't seem to quite grasp the gravity of the situation. Tiso seems confused. Gurashi looks confused. Khepqet looks at you, and you back at her. Everything will be O-K because Miss Khep is here now. Miss Khep is here and she will fix it. She can make the yelling stop, and everything that is left better. You realize now she is all you have left. What do you do. What do you do. What do we do.

You have emoted: Gurashi feels as stiff as a statue as Tridemon holds him, eyes wide and unfocused and unseeing even as he stares transfixed at the pool. You realize the strange pin-prickling entity is no longer moving away, no longer moving forward - you can't quite see it at all. But you can feel it, at every point where yours and Gurashi's body's meet. (Another ripple in the pool: you look up at Khepqet standing over you in the pool, her expression oddly cool. Miss Khepqet can fix everything, she can fix the things that I cannot. What should we do now? What do we do what do I do I -- Miss Khep what are you doing.

You think to yourself: / *pleading* Don't... /.

Tridemon sits in silence, holding you. Closing his eyes, but opening them again, to watch the pool. "Ssh. It hurts, I know. Truth often does." He says, his voice soft. It's hard to tell who he's actually addressing at this point...

You have emoted: The pool ripples again, turning red, blood red with anger. Exile? The waters ripple, and you watch from Nepra's perspective as Khepqet reaches out, resting one hand on the side of Tiso's head. That's IT? A growing sense of injustice - rage building. You can feel her gaze shift towards Tridemon and Gurashi , sneering. The feeling continues, the pool churning. It's like he's being rewarded for being an IDIOT. The colors dampen again, mute with confusion. Khepqet's hand is warm and reassuring and familiar, but she looks so sad. Her hand drifts up, fingers wrapping around your antennae, the sensation unpleasant. Antennae should not be -grabbed-, don't you know this?

You have emoted: And then there is a sharp pull, and Khepqet's hands move, and the sharp thing she holds cuts through your antennae, and for a moment all you know is pain. Gurashi seizes violently, twisting in Tridemon's grasp with nearly enough force to pull himself away, limbs curling in around his abdomen to protect himself like any insect might.

Tridemon pulls you in closer as you twist, arms much stronger here, in the mindscape, than they ever were out in reality. "I know. I know. It hurts. But..." He raises his head at this point to look over at Khep. "I think it was preferable to having Tyrant Mumhatuti lose patience."

You have emoted: Khep sits motionless, what's left of the chain still wrapped around her arm, her head hung. Gurashi thrashes again, letting out a short, suffocated noise as tears spill down his face, seeming like he might have forgotten how to breathe.

You think to yourself: ** you've seen and felt this vision before, previously in the presence of the strange pin-prickling entity, the there and now. cannot speak. synapses in brain are black and fried. cannot find language. hands desperately feeling in the dark for what it is that has lost **.

You think to yourself: ** eyes are clamped shut; sealed with sticky tears. un-peel them to a hundred dumbstruck faces. floating, slowly, back to your body. what's going on, where am I, where is everyone why'd this happen to me why'd you do this to me **.

You twitch spasmodically.

You think to yourself: ** a little firmer, forceful, upset - why did you do this to me **.

You think to yourself: ** somewhere, unnoticed for some time - a loud, singular cracking noise that grows in volume **.

Light spreads across your back in numerous colours and hues, enfolding you like butterfly wings.

Tridemon looks up again, to the sky. "I don't think I can stop it from breaking. ... I'm not sure I should, either. I will be here to catch you if you fall." He says, simply, standing, lifting you easily, if awkwardly, from your place on the ground- carrying you.

You have emoted: The pool shifts in color again. Blood red with anger. You can see Nepra tighten her grip again on her weapon, taking a step closer to Khep where she has crumpled in her grief. For a moment all you want to do is kill him, and every single person who took advantage of sweet Amun's heart, strung him along, took him from the right path. Unfair that the one person who nearly destroyed you with their stupid existence, should live. A rightful anger. It only fuels this confusion, makes the pain feel all the more terrible. Like you might never feel anything else ever again beyond this... what is it. What is it? Gurashi's head lolls back as he is lifted, his gray eyes still wide as can be, vacantly staring off into space, the colors that normally drift about his imagined form absent. What is it?

You think to yourself: // *her red-hot gaze locked on Khep* BETRAYAL //.

The call of a cicada welcomes the setting of the sun and the coming night.

Tridemon sighs, and turns to Nepra, his eyes half-lidded as he steps forward, still carrying you. Moving faster than he really ought to be able to while being gentle, closing the distance in fewer steps than logic would dictate, interposing himself between Nepra and Khep. He looks up at the wasp-morph. "I am going to request, again, that you do not act until I get the chance to ask Gurashi the right question." It doesn't take much effort for him to shift the tone of the pool to calmness- it's a part of him, after all, connected to him in a line of starlit night. The pool doesn't show... anything. Utterly blank, visually. Just an impression, a question, aimed at you. Do you want to forgive her?

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

You have emoted: Gurashi's bleary, uneven gaze drifts around, glazing over the pool and the lack of any imagery. Looking over Tridemon's shoulder, he can see Khepqet, still on her knees on the ground, her eyes wide as she looks up back up at the man. His gaze drifts once more, to Nepra, who sneers down at Tridemon but holds firm, neither advancing nor retreating. Forgive? You can feel him pulse with subdued psionic energy in your grasp, torn between two minds.

You think to yourself: ** ... she was so dear to us... she did not have a choice... **.

You think to yourself: ** so was amun - amun was important too - amun was everything **.

You think to yourself: ** hating her forever will not fix anything, it will only make it worse **.

You think to yourself: ** cannot move past this **.

You have emoted: As if in response, there is another great cracking sound. What little remains of the vines falls to bits, leaving the circle completely exposed, only your own watery mindscape dominates the surrounds. Nepra sneers down at Tridemon and Gurashi , her patience beginning to wear thin.

You think to yourself: ** do not want to hate anyone **.

You think to yourself: **a wash of ruddy hues - I -DO- **.

Tridemon continues to look up at Nepra, placidly, letting the shallow starsea fall back into liquid, splashing at his feet, swirling along his robes. "... Did Pipui come along?" He asks, finally, listening to the back and forth between Gurashi's thoughts.

You think to yourself: // *you can feel her glance askance, out beyond the remnants of the vines. A brief flash of gold and pink* WE ARE RARELY APART //.

You think to yourself: / *her own gaze sweeps out towards the mindscape, eyes narrowing, scowling - she snaps up at Nepra, leaning to look past your form which partially obscures her view* You seriously brought her here?? /.

You think to yourself: // *an indignant scoff* OH, NOW YOU SOUND SURPRISED //.

Tridemon glances over at Khep again. "I'm sure they're just very good friends." He remarks to the smaller princess, his voice almost free of inflection.

You have emoted: The whole mindscape groans, and you can feel Gurashi's give a little more. The ground suddenly sags, the piles of petrified fine crumbling to nothing more than dust. Gurashi struggles to focus on what's going on, lolling his head to look at what's causing this fresh rush of commotion. Khep rises to her feet, glaring daggers at Nepra, looking past Tridemon, unimpeded by your height. And then Gurashi's gaze finds Pipui, and what little color remained in his face leaves it again.

You think to yourself: ** white hot FEAR sickening self loathing a bad taste absolute disgust - no I cannot no not again **.

You think to yourself: ** we have to forgive her, and maybe Miss Nepra can-- **.

You think to yourself: ** C A N N O T **.

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes widen in response to some unseen force. There is a moment where nothing happens, the tense air lingering between Khepqet and Nepra, and now Pipui. He reaches upward fumblingly, suddenly wrapping his arms around Tridemon's shoulders and holding on tight, clinging desperately. You hear a faint, very near tinkling noise, like tiny glass branches creaking as they move. You catch movement in the corner of your eye, and realize that the fragile, thorny glass vines of the circlet around Gurashi's forehead are ... moving.

Tridemon looks you over, particularly the circlet as it moves, watching for a moment as he looks out over at Pipui again. "In the realm of the mind. Shape is a matter of preference. Distance is a suggestion. Intent. Will. Imagination." He says in a very conversational tone as the cloud of starlit night that is his mantle forms into a vaguely arm-like shape, moving in closer to your head, a night-formed finger touching the circlet's thorns.

You think to yourself: / *you feel Khep look at Gurashi, having not yet heard the answer herself to the question you've asked* /.

You have emoted: The glass tendril that is touched recoils sharply, then lashes out, attempting to wrap around the starry hand aggressively, tiny inverse thorns painfully hooking into it, trying to twist it away. Get away. Yet Gurashi clings even more insistently, hugging Tridemon's shoulders with what little strength he can find. Another vine begins to move, and then another, growing out from the circlet and creeping down, reaching for the ground like most plants would reach for sun.

You think to yourself: // *you can see Pipui's furry antennae bob, see her lean forward and cup her hands over where her mouth might be, had she one: whaaaat?* //.

Tridemon doesn't seem to mind the thorns digging into the starry hand- at least, not enough to flinch away. Instead, the fingers wrap around the vines and start to pull upward, to pull the circlet away from your head and to pull the vines out of range of the ground. As an afterthought, he ends up yelling back to Pipui: "Go away and stop traumatizing the poor boy!"

You think to yourself: ** no no no no no - you pull at the circlet, pull it away, the rest of it tightening its grip, thorns digging deep, threatening to break skin - another tendril suddenly lashes out at the hand, then another lashes out at you, gently striking your forehead as if trying to slap you away **.

Tridemon frowns slightly at the circlet's struggles, blinking slightly when the vine hit his forehead. "Now, why did Bizirik think that she needed to nibble your circlet right off your head, I wonder?" He asks mildly as he keeps pulling- the starry hand splits into its own series of vines, or at least tendrils, wrapping and twining with the struggling article.

You have emoted: Khepqet balls her hands into fists, glaring across the desolate landscape towards Pipui. The moth looks confused, her brightly colored wings flapping, carrying her back as she is scolded. Gurashi's grip remains firm and desperate, and the tendrils from the circlet continue to lash out, more frantic and aggressive with each passing swipe, thorns no longer meant to hook but to rend. There is danger and it must be fended off - and YOU are part of that danger. The attention of all three princesses is drawn to both of you now, antennae bobbing in conjoined confusion.

Tridemon continues to pulls and struggle with the vines of the circlet for a short while longer, growling slightly. "Alright, I've lost patience for this." He says after a particularly nasty swipe, and opens his eyes- his physical eyes. He's kind of in two places right now as his physical hand points toward your forehead, and the version of himself in the mindscape slows significantly...

A compelling voice within your mind takes control of you.
You remove a circlet of crystal thorns.
Lifting a circlet of crystal thorns from your head, you sense the psionic field about you dissolve.

You have emoted: Much of Tridemon's focus has been in the mindscape, lost in stories, in the presence of far too many foreign entities. But as you look to where Gurashi sits on the pillow in the center of the room, you can see his shirt is drenched with sweat, his skin flushed and eyes wide. He sees you raise your hand, and a terrified look crosses his face as his hands raise of their own volition, gripping the circlet, and ripping it free. Scabs which had long since healed over from the circlet's tight position are ripped anew in a short painful burst, and Gurashi holds the circlet over his head, gasping.

You think to yourself: ** a pause - a sharp gasp - suddenly it is like being ripped in half - unlike before when the hive noise became a carcophanous din, only a deafening silence **.

Tridemon settles his focus back into the mindscape- having made you take the circlet off, but... not wanting to even attempt to force you to keep it off if you're unwilling. What is done is done. "Apologies. I don't like doing that to you, you know. A terrible thing."

You have emoted: The circlet remains held aloft in Gurashi's hands for a few moments. But soon it tumbles out of his grasp and lands on the pillow at his knees, and his arms fall limply into his lap. Beside him, Bizirik watches, having not made a single peep throughout this entire exchange. Its body is hunched and its heckles are raised, watching the exchange with extreme caution. And distress.

Tridemon blinks a bit at the silence. "... Did he accidentally push... Oh, nil." He opens his eyes again, looking you over critically... "Well, I hope this isn't the wrong thing to do. Again."

A compelling voice within your mind takes control of you.
You slip into a circlet of crystal thorns.
Placing a circlet of crystal thorns atop your head, you sense a psionic field rise about you.

Light spreads across your back in numerous colours and hues, enfolding you like butterfly wings.

You have emoted: With automated movements, Gurashi takes the circlet and returns it to his head. His expression remains no less vacant, eyes glazing over as the artifact finds its place against his temples. You can feel the sharp sting of its artificial thorns coming to find the old places where they rested prior, enough to make one less apt to pain flinch. Bizirik lets out a little whine, nostrils flaring as it watches.

You have emoted: As you return to the mindscape, you immediately notice the tension in the air. Khep and Nepra have not settled their stare-down, nor has Pipui fully left, the top of the moth's head just barely visible beyond the rubble of the ruined vines. The circlet remains on in the dreaming, but the tendrils that had so desperately been reaching for the ground and fighting at your grip are now lifeless, even after the circlet is returned to its resting place on Gurashi's head in the waking world. His arms, which were desperately wrapped around your shoulders, are now limp, fingers still curled from his previously balled fists.

You think to yourself: ** an eerie silence **.

Tridemon watches you, limp and silent for a few quiet moments. And leans down to set you on the ground, delicately arranging your limbs into a sleeping position, and his mantle back into the formless cloud of starlit night, looking on at the angry kepherans a short distance away.

You think to yourself: ** you notice over time after the circlet's return, a familiar buzzing, bristling, pin-prickling, softer than before, hurt ... ... do not send me away again **.

You think to yourself: / *she is initially focused on Nepra, hands on her own weapon now, the familiar blue tipped spear raised defensively. But then she sees you, and her arms lower, as do her antennae* .... /.

Tridemon stands, stock still for a moment, as he notices the buzzing and prickling, letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, before narrowing his eyes and looking out at the others. "... Pipui, the very sight of you makes Gurashi go white-hot with fear. Tell me, why is that." The last is more of a statement than a question as a reddish glow in the shape of a chain shines from under the crystalline surface of his left hand.

You have emoted: Gurashi twitches at the mere mention of the name. There is a ruffle of gold and a flutter of pink as the moth scoots even further back, her blank eyes widening. You get the impression of innocent, and a soft, fast-speaking voice responds to you, too fast to understand, chittering and buzzing. Feigned innocence. Nepra turns as she notices Tridemon's attention on the smaller kephera, leaving Khepqet unattended for the time being.

Tridemon doesn't bother with keeping up pretense any longer. Here, distance is an illusion. Shape is a matter of preference. Imagination and will are law. And with a sharp gesture of his left hand, a chain of crystalline memory, Pain in Garnet and Amethyst, extends itself to a degree that is definitely far, far longer than the chain had ever been... with all the speed of a striking viper, intent on catching the moth and wrapping around her antennae.

You have emoted: You can hear her squeal in fright, wings fluttering frantically as she dashes to outrun the chain. You hear Nepra call out in anger as you strike for the tinier princess, starting towards you. With a panicked moment of judgement, Khepqet suddenly swings her spear at Nepra's legs, sending the wasp-morph sprawling into an undignified lump on the ground. Gurashi's eyes suddenly widen, and her turns his head the barest amount, struggling to see what madness is unfolding around him.

Tridemon flares with crimson light, streaks and jagged stripes of the angry color staining him as he twists the chain, sending it after the moth even FASTER, overtaking, curving in front of her, cutting off her retreat... but having the barest amount of mercy and wrapping around her torso instead of around her antennae or neck. "Why don't you come along and tell us ALL about how he ended up at Akhari in the first place, hmm?"

You have been recognised by Tridemon for: An 11 hour exploration of backstory!
You just earned 5 daily credits. You can earn 25 more.

(clan): You say, "*LOL*."
(clan): You say, "Christ."
(clan): You say, "I have a problem."
(clan): You say, "We have a problem?"

You have emoted: Gurashi sits up on his elbows, looking first at the moth, then at Tridemon. A strange dissonance occurs. There is a strong sense from him that he wants to encourage what you are doing. Yes, make her pay. But, no, that isn't right. Pipui raises her arms, managing to evade being pinned down completely by the chain. She looks at you, incredulous, then narrows her eyes, her wings flapping furiously as she yanks back at the chain. How dare you! The nerve! And just what are you insinuating! All manner of accusation is thrown back in your face as she flits against her binds. You can feel her call out for Nepra, who is already back on her feet.

You think to yourself: // *rearing back her arm to hurl her weapon in your direction* DON'T TOUCH HER //.

Tridemon pulls on the chain with his left hand, causing the moth to come zooming back toward him on the end of a taut chain... though nowhere near as fast as the chain had gone out in the first place. His stance shifts, though, as the chain wraps around his arm, out of his grip, but still pulling the diminutive moth princess along. His staff manifests itself in his hands as he takes up a stance facing Nepra, standing less like a mage and more like a tahtetso monk, with a ring of sapphire and mercury manifesting along one of the fingers of his right hand.
The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

You have emoted: Nepra's polearm strikes against your staff, and you find yourself uncomfortably close to the end of a shorn stinger. Pipui is positively inconsolable now as she is pulled close, her wings furiously flapping to try and keep herself far away from you. Gurashi sits further upright, trembling with effort. Yes. Make her suffer. -No- that isn't -right-.

Tridemon didn't really plan on blocking Nepra for very long. Even with his memory and imagination, the movements are less than the fluid perfection than one might expect from a true Tahtetso. But the set of moves he chooses are simple, and there's the shadow of white wings behind him as he strikes down at the ground with his staff, polevaulting himself -toward- Nepra... and transitioning instantly into a starkick aimed squarely at the top of her skull.

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches up, touching his temple as the strange translucent vines attached to the circlet begin to move of their own accord again. Another shrill cry of disbelief and fear from the moth as she is held taught. You can feel Khepqet watch, taken aback by the sudden vaulting motion. But Nepra seems far from startled, her whole life dedicated to evading assaults from above. Both right hands find your leg, snatching you from the air, and with little effort or hesitation hurls you towards the reflecting pond, chain and all.

Tridemon honestly... isn't all that surprised at the lack of efficacy from the move. If this were to happen to his physical body, he'd definitely require a bit of curing, but... now he's further away from Nepra again. The water of the pool itself moves to catch him, the starry water rejoining his mantle to slow his fall before returning back to the pool. But now... Pipui is much, much closer. And a thread of the starry water flows up the chain toward the moth, very dark against the glowing red. "Pipui, come here and explain... why is Gurashi so afraid? Why does part of him want you to suffer? Tell us a story, child, and tell it true."

You think to yourself: ** no no no wait why are you doing this **.

You have emoted: As you land in the pool, there is another loud crack. You watch as more of the sky falls away, a bright, blinding white behind it. The ground shudders and sags again, like a sinkhole preparing to give, and a loud groaning noise reverberates throughout the mindscape. Some of the rubble nearest to Gurashi moves as he leans forward, too far from Khep, from Nepra, even from Tridemon. The vines continue to creep down, piercing into the nearest cracks.

You think to yourself: ** white hot fear. red hot anger. a shock of cyan delight - look at how scared she is **.

You have emoted: Pipui stares deep into your face, at first, continuing to deny everything. But here, separated from Nepra, there isn't much else she CAN do. Her fingers curl around what bit of chain she can grasp as her eyes narrow, innocence replacing with something more cruel. You can feel her tauntingly call out to you, her incomprehensible voice echoing throughout Gurashi's mindscape, calling you out on your own threat: Oh. You want stories? A nauseating green hue seeps into the gray of the mindscape, and she laughs wildly. She can tell you -stories-.

Tridemon gives a rather predatory grin to Pipui, the water of the pool leaving the pool, splitting into two, leaving a set of white stones in a dry depression while one part floats in an orb in front of Nepra, the other in front of Khep, both quite blank... but connected with threads of starry water to him, and to the moth-kephera in return. "Oh, please do. Only the true ones, though. I can think up terrible and disgusting stories all on my own. I'm just curious about what YOU have to say for yourself..."

You think to yourself: ** stop it **.

You have emoted: The moth shows no intention of standing down, facing your bluff and rising to meet the challenge with sadistic glee. Khepqet's antennae sag, and she suddenly looks away from Nepra and towards Tridemon, concern growing on her features. She starts to speak, but her voice comes out oddly silent. She looks down, touching her mouth. There's... no sound in Gurashi's mindscape now, she realizes the earlier din replaced with a suffocating silence. Nearby, Nepra's four eyes narrow suspiciously at the stone, watching as an image starts to appear - dark, hot, blurry...

You think to yourself: ** a sense of repulsion - you hear a thunderous crack, see the nearby piles of vine rubble shift as if something living were preparing to burst through **.
The sounds of unseen animals stirring for the coming day are audible behind the gentle whistling of the wind elsewhere in the manse.

You think to yourself: ** STOP IT **.

You think to yourself: / *her own confused gaze locking onto the sphere, then onto you* Keeper -- /.
With a sprightly skip in her step, a simple house maid curtseys before departing to the east.

Tridemon looks down, and smiles a little smile, letting the chain... fall away from poor little Pipui, the thread of water pulling back, the waters split between Nepra and Khep pulling back to him as well. "Sorry. I may have gone a little far. Anger makes it so much easier to push past the point of reason." The stones and depression all fade, rejoining the starry cloud that is his mantle.

You have emoted: Momentarily rended motionless by the chain, the moth smirks as she stares back up at Tridemon, feeling herself set free... But by the time you've made your peace, it is already too late. The earth between you and Pipui splits, separating as a perfectly clear vine as wide as a fully matured tree bursts through the ground. Another one pops up nearby, and then another, and another, each one near but not quite touching any of you, creating a barrier between each foreign entity and Gurashi .

You have emoted: More and more of the vines begin to aggressively sprout up from the ground, twisting together, breaking apart the floor. One violently thrusts Nepra several feet back, another swinging tendril sends Pipui flying like an arrow. Khepqet manages to evade being struck by the first swinging vine, but a second nails her hard across the torso, and she is send tumbling towards your not-so-distant mindscape. She skids to a halt, then looks up and over at Gurashi , who sits perfectly still, the vines from his circlet permeating into the earth and spreading like wildfire. And then, the vines come for -you-. Or they start to - the ground before you suddenly pitches at a sharp 45-degree angle, intending to send you tumbling away rather than outright striking.

Tridemon seems rather more surprised by this than having been hurled away by Nepra, but he ends up mostly rolling with it. Mostly, because he manages to roll directly into another protruding bit of the ground that thunks him firmly on the forhead, leaving him sitting up and rubbing his face in disorientation, the cloudy starry night of his mantle becoming somewhat more diffuse for the moment.

You have emoted: The manic, rapid growth of the glassy vines continues. You feel like you should be able to hear the distant, disoriented screaming of the other three princesses as they are separated from you, but everything is still so eerily silent, even with all the chaos unfolding. Colors spark before your eyes, be it from the hit or from Gurashi , you cannot tell - panicked flashes of white and red and cyan, mauve and amber - the vines still spread, plowing over the remnants of the beach, stopping only when they crash headlong into the watery gates of your mindscape, a sensation so powerful it makes everything shake. Then, and only then, do the gnarled tops curl inward, and then fold, creating a shape resembling a cocoon, settling like a spent animal after their manic expansion.

You have emoted: You cannot make out any bit of orange through the many layers of distorted glass vines. But then, perhaps most disturbingly, you hear and feel a loud POP. Moments later, you feel yourself cut off from Gurashi . Distinctly, unwittingly - you are severed, and with it dims the hive noise, the unwanted pin-prickling, the pit in your stomach that was never actually yours. Gone.

You stare blankly at Tridemon.

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly looks at Tridemon, at the moment very awake, covered in a thin sheen of sweat.

Light spreads across your back in numerous colours and hues, enfolding you like butterfly wings.

Tridemon tilts his head as he pulls himself back into the physical world... and gives you a wide smile, far less sharp than the smiles he'd given the princesses. "Well done."

You think to yourself: ** the sensation again of splitting - a yawing, distant keening - no more **.

You think to yourself: ** somewhere, panicked, at least one of the princesses, trying to return to the source, reaching out for either of you **.

Tridemon ponders a bit.. and lets out a short, psionic pulse. I am here. I am well. And that's all the information carried within.

You have emoted: Gurashi doesn't return the smile quite as joyously, his eyes wide. Tridemon can tell looking at his haunted expression, that he hasn't quite worked out what's just happened... Or maybe he has, and the tragedy that it was has now forced him into the fullest realization at how terribly much has been lost before the Portal. The sweat makes the scar on his right cheek stand out even more. After, just as well.

You think to yourself: ** an attempt to form thought, met with a literal wall of thorny glass **.

You think to yourself: ** ... **.

Aquamantic symbols suddenly project themselves upon the very air in dark blue light, fading after a brief moment.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Relax. You'll find a happy medium. You... might have to figure it out on your own."

The perception of time momentarily slows to a fraction as Atropos snips stray strands and frayed threads upon the Tapestry of Fate, each cut bringing a distant scream. Time rushes forward as the memory fades, yet you retain the knowledge that your fate in Lusternia is far from meeting its end.

You think to yourself: ** .... a foreign, familiar memory of isolation ..... **.

Tridemon reaches out to pat you on the shoulder. "Go. Sleep."

You have emoted: Gurashi stares a few moments longer at Tridemon, absolutely unmoving in his spot. Bizirik slinks closer, sniffing at the man before laying its head on the pillow beside him, tail slapping the ground behind it. Finally, he looks down, too tired even to cry.

Tridemon ponders you thoughtfully, looking you up and down.

Tridemon fuses together several beryl gems and forms a beryl vial.
Tridemon drops a beryl vial. <-- is apple juice :3

You have emoted: Bizirik trills softly, nudging its head against Gurashi leg, tail slapping the ground as it tries to urge him to stand, to no avail. It snorts in frustration.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Have some apple juice. I'll leave you to sleep."

Tridemon turns towards the east and steps forward, instantly collapsing into a torrent of water that rushes outwards with a thunderous crash of water.

You have emoted: Gurashi watches Tridemon go, looking like he wants to say something but he cannot find the words in time. Bizirik lets out a soft little noise, looping its gangly limbs around Gurashi's waist and legs, grooming his sweaty face in an attempt to make him feel better.